Welbeck had a good game IMO and did not miss any sitters. He hit the post early on with a chip shot an RVP in his prime might have made or a world class triker might have made. But relative to what we have (Giroud and Sanogo) he was an improvement IMO. But one game doesn't mean much.

Man U looked great but played against a weak QPR. Blind IMO was very impressive in his DM role and and could be the glue that holds Man U together. Having said that, as for Welbeck, one good game by Blind is too early draw conclusions but he was light years better than Flamini or Arteta were for us in the same role. He was quicker, reads the game better, has better technique and is calmer on the ball. I did not expect that and thought he might be roughed up a little in the PL. In fact I am pretty #$%$ of Arsenal didn't sign him or an other quality DM like him. Man U scared me but I hope it was because QPR made you look good.

When Welbeck signed for Arsenal it was a joke, even to United fans, and Gunners on every forum were bemoaning the signing.

He scores 2 goals in his next game and every article is proclaiming him as the next Henry and a transfer mistake by Van Gaal on par with letting Pogba leave for free. Only now are they pointing out he has a better goals to games ratio than Rooney and Sheare - and this is all just a week after signing! I wont be surprised if he has a poor game against Man City that the knives are back out, such is the nature of the media, the British public, scratch that, football fans generally.

I thought he was a great signing for Arsenal, and it was sad to see Man Utd let a local lad go at just 23, but how it pans out is anyones guess, dependent on many variables (ie Wenger playing him upfront). You cant argue that United did bad business if Falcao comes good, but its all ifs and buts at the moment. The tribal nature of football really is pathetic, and only getting worse.

I am not sure what position we should prioritize, a DM or a CD? Should Kos be back to full fitness I would chose a very good DM over a central defender. I think Schneiderlin might be one of the best in the PL. But should Kos continue to struggle than we clearly should prioritize a central defender IMO.

In an ideal world we should sign one of each. Maybe a Virgil van Dijk at CD and a clear upgrade (Khedira? bender?, Carvalho?) on Flamini and Arteta.

However I don't see Wenger sign a quality DM this window or any tie soon.

I think it was a great and important result. Of course to give it away late leaves a bad taste in our mouth but like you said, if you play panic football in the last 20 minutes you are likely to concede against a better team and Liverpool had been batter all game. Liverpool trailing us in the table and possibly competing with us for 4th meant a draw was better result for us than for them.

We look likely to survive an other round in the CL but what will that lead to and will it harm our fragile squad and chances for 4th in the PL? Who knows. At this point in time I find it hard to get excited about the prospects of beating Monaco, an other mid-table average team.

I hope against reason and history that Wenger will buy a starting type caliber defensive player either CD or defensive midfielder during the January window. Schneiderlin would make me very happy.

I think Chaimbers had a stinker and I wonder if he is not, at this point, a better CD than RB. Clearly Wenger thinks Debuchy is the better CD. I also think Mertesacker is not having a great year and that is costing us even if it is in his failure to organise the defense during set pieces. I am sure it frustrating to every Arsenal fan to continue to concede from set pieces year after year. To me that should be one of the parts of the game you can practice for and improve on yet it is hard to see such improvement.

I still don't think we take 4th this season and I fear we might be exposed by West Ham. We are lucky Song is leaving for the ACN.

11 dropped points from winning positions thus far, that would have put us in contention for the PL title.

I think people trying to downplay Man Utds game against QPR are wrong personally. What I saw was a team playing like it was a cup final, and I think they would have found a way to outscore anyone that day. If they play like that every week it will be just like Liverpool last season. Through dominating possession and fighting to win the ball back they made look QPR look clueless, although they did have a couple good moments on the counter, in the end QPR were fortunate not to concede 6 or 7.

I think its early but feel safe to say that their new signings look like the correct ones. Rojo looks like he will do very well in the prem. Di Maria is also made for the prem and linked up well with Rojo. Blind did everything Carrick does but better, and Herrera looks like the engine they have missed since Fletcher first got injured, except he has more technique/quality. Shaw still to come who was the best left back last season, Rafael made a big difference at RB and this formation meant more numbers in midfield, so less defensive work by Mata allowing him to do what he does best. I said before, Rooney doesnt like to be the main man as proved in the days of Tevez and Ronaldo, he excels when he has better players alongside him and I think well see a much more dangerous side once Falcao settles in and Di Maria starts to fulfill Van Gaals 'Robben Role'. The early signs are promising.

The joke has been on United for a while now but something tells me they will have the last laugh, top 4 minimum this season which means either Arsenal or Liverpool will have to go. Van Persies body language might be a worry but with the options they have they could be forgiven for not worrying/caring.

John the way I see it is that we can (and have to) analyze each game very much along the lines you did, looking at the positives (possession) and the negatives in ability to break opponents down as a result of slow ball movement from the back and individual errors (Flamini cost us a goal against City and Spurs - and yes I like him and his attitude and still prefer him over Arteta but not as much as last season, and we need a higher caliber DM as a starter).

But the fact remains that we are dropping points like a sieve. Man U, by some considered to have had a poor start is only 2 points behind us and Chelsea is running away quickly. They will probably beat us next week without too much trouble.

Our short comings don't seem new to this year, wanting to walk the ball into the net, conceding on set pieces, vulnerability to speedy opponents, good games followed by poor games, no game plan other than forced by injuries.

When I look at things in this context I think we are in pretty poor shape with little chance to expect major change.